University of Oklahoma Fraternity Closed Over Racist Video – NBCNews.com

Posted: Monday, March 09, 2015

The University of Oklahoma is investigating a video circulating on social media allegedly showing members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity singing racist language, the school’s president said Sunday.

“If OU students are involved, this behavior will not be tolerated and will be addressed very quickly,” OU President David Boren said in a tweeted statement, adding that confirmation would cause him to ban the fraternity chapter from campus. “This behavior is reprehensible and contrary to all of our values.”

The video shows students who appear to be on a bus singing, “There will never be a n****r in SAE.”

Late Sunday, Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s national headquarters issued an apology for the video and announced that it had closed its OU chapter and suspended students involved.

“We apologize for the unacceptable and racist behavior of the individuals in the video, and we are disgusted that any member would act in such a way,” SAE said in a statement. “Furthermore, we are embarrassed by this video and offer our empathy not only to anyone outside the organization who is offended but also to our brothers who come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities.

Unheard, a Black student group on Oklahoma’s campus said in a statement that the video “contains language that is offensive, disrespectful and unacceptable.”

“We still have a reason to march,” the statement added, referencing the 50th anniversary of a bloody confrontation in Selma between police and peaceful protesters seeking voting rights for Blacks.